07 July 2026, São Paulo: Brazil’s imports of chemical pesticides declined by 6.8% in value during the first five months of 2026, reflecting a more cautious purchasing environment as growers continue to navigate tighter margins and constrained access to agricultural credit. According to data from CropData, the market intelligence platform of CropLife Brazil, chemical pesticide imports totaled US$4.28 billion between January and May 2026, compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
The decline was also evident in import volumes, which fell 6.5% year-on-year, decreasing from 537,300 tonnes to 502,600 tonnes. The figures indicate that the slowdown is driven not only by lower average prices but also by more selective purchasing decisions across Brazil’s agricultural sector.
According to Renato Gomides, Executive Manager at CropLife Brazil, the decline does not indicate reduced crop protection efforts in the field. Instead, it reflects a strategic shift by farmers toward a broader mix of products as they respond to economic pressures.
“Approximately US$1.4 billion, or nearly one-third of total imports, corresponds to formulated products that are ready for use by farmers,” Gomides said. He added that the data reveal a growing preference for post-patent generic crop protection products, which have become widely available in global markets and offer more economical alternatives to proprietary formulations.
CropLife Brazil also pointed to regulatory challenges as an important factor shaping import patterns. Compared with several other major agricultural economies, Brazil continues to experience relatively lengthy approval timelines for new crop protection technologies.
Gomides noted that delayed access to innovative products naturally directs the market toward technologies that are already available. He said the increasing share of generic products is therefore not only a consequence of economic conditions but also reflects the need for a more predictable and efficient regulatory framework capable of accelerating the approval of new crop protection innovations.
Herbicides Continue to Lead Imports
Herbicides remained the largest category of imported formulated crop protection products during the January-May 2026 period, accounting for 34% of total import value and 35% of import volume.
Their continued dominance is closely linked to Brazil’s extensive adoption of no-till farming systems, where chemical weed management is essential to eliminate the need for mechanical soil disturbance while helping prevent erosion and soil compaction. Against the backdrop of tighter farm economics, Brazilian growers are increasingly relying on generic herbicide formulations to maintain effective weed control, protect crop productivity, and manage production costs efficiently.
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